Complexion brush



May 19, 1959 R. c. SPRATLIN COMPLEXION BRUSH Filed Oct. 30, 1956 INVENTOR.

BY @ewm Amnny:

2,386,840 Patented May 19, 1959 fiice CUMPLEXIGN BRUSH Rebecca C. Spratlin, Valdosta, Ga. Application October 30, 1956, Serial No. 619,272 2 Claims. (Cl. -160) The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a special purpose bristle-equipped brush which is expressly, although not necessarily de signed and adapted for use by female users, and has particular reference to a so-called complexion brush.

As the preceding general statement of the nature of the invention implies, the brush herein revealed is intended to be aptly utilized in a manner to brush and cleanse ones facial features with the aid of an appropriate cleansing cream, soap or an equivalent preparation. The task involved is sometimes tedious and painstaking. Therefore, brush manufacturers have seen fit to offer complexion brushes in an effort to enable users thereof to carry out the procedure. Although several types of complexion brushes are known and in use they do not, it is believed, achieve the end results desired. For these and perhaps other reasons, prior art adaptations have evidently not met with widespread endorsement and use.

An obvious objective in the instant matter is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon similar- 1y constructed and performing complexion brushes and, in so doing, to provide a unique and improved complexion brush which will comply with. manufacturing requirements and economies of manufacturers, with sales expectations of retailers, and will meet the needs of users.

More specifically, the instant concept has to do with a novel complexion brush which is such in design and construction that eflicient use thereof will enable a user to more efiicaciously cope with the job of cleansing every portion of the face with painstaking care and will better serve the purposes for which it is intended.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention the improved brush enables the user to gently but firmly brush and cleanse and condition every area of the face and skin. Briefly, a preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a rigid backing amply small to comply with the requisite needs of the average user and having a handle at its maneuverable end and so designed and constructed that it lends itself to expedient and controllable use, and tufts of bristles attached to and covering the obverse face of said backing, said bristles being comparable in texture and nature to those which are recommended and endorsed for useon a complexion brush, the main bank of bristles, carried by the median body portion and trailing end portion of said backing being relatively long and uniform in length, and the remaining bristles, that is, those which are embodied in and constitute an auxiliary bank and which are carried by the forward and leading end portion of the backing member, being gradually and progressively decreased in length from the juncture of the main and auxiliary banks toward said leading end. With a view toward more satisfactorily solving the brushing and cleansing problem the forward and leading end portions of the brush are sloped in a direction toward the reverse or exterior side or face of the backing so that it may as sume a position which is at a slight oblique angle in relation to the plane of the major portion of the [mob mg.

The invention further features a novel brush construction which is approximately ovate in plan, said handle, for the most part thereof, being wider than the widest median portion of the backing and having its forward end joined to the trailing end of the backing by a lateral outstanding web, whereby said handle, which is substantially fiat, is thus offset, assumes a plane parallel to that of the backing, and offers clearance between the users face and fingers of the hand which is used to grasp the handle.

A still further object of the invention is that whereinthe forward end portion of said handle is marginally fashioned to provide a pair of outstanding selectively usable shoulders, the latter serving as thumb-rests and functioning. to accommodate a thumb of either the right hand or the left hand and thus rendering said brush suitable for either right-handed or left-handed use, whichever is necessary or desired.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on a brush having the structural characteristics set forth wherein the forward end portion is not only at the stated oblique angle but is provided with a transverse slot which is approximately crescent-shaped in plan and is situated inwardly and rearwardly of the tip or leading end' and transforms said end into an arcuate bow-like member providing a unique bow-brush. It follows that the brush is two brushes in one. Also this bow-brush is an outstanding feature of the overall brush. in that its value lies in. being able to clean small and hard-to-get-at areas on the face such as the creases of the nose, between the eyes, and between the eyebrows and hairline.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative, but not restrictive, drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a complexion brush constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view through. the same with a portion of the handle appearing in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same; and,

Fig. 4 is an edge or side elevation which reveals the unique structural characteristics of the improved brush.

Referring now to the details with the aid of reference numerals and lead lines it may be stated that the body and handle portions of the brush may be constructed of suitable commercial plastics, wood or any other mate'- rial which the manufacturer considers practical and desirable. The head is denoted as an entity by the numeral 6 and the handle by the numeral 8. As before touched upon the backing 10 of the head is approximately ovate in plan. The major or body portion is substantially straight and flat while the leading or forward end portion 12 is sloped upwardly (in relation to the drawings) at approximate oblique angle. Inwardly of the tip ofthe leading end a crescent-shaped slot 14 is provided. This slot functions as a clearance for sudsy or similar facial preparations and compounds and, what is more important, to define the aforementioned bow-brush. More particularly it defines an arcuate bow member 16.. Considered in conjunction with the slot this is sometimes referred to as a loop. It will be noted in connection with. this aspect of the invention that the bow and also the rearward end portions which merge into the backing proper are provided with what are herein identified as secondary bristles. These are relatively short bristles of appropriate texture and kind and the bristles radiate in several directions from the surfaces of the bow. That is to say, there are forwardly directed bristles 18, forwardly and outwardly directed bristles 20 and additional top bristles 22. The bow-brush as a component of the overall construction is denoted generally by the numeral 24. The primary bristles are also of a propriate texture and grade suitable for a complexion brush. There are two banks of bristles involved and the longer ones, referred to as tufts 26, are approximately uniform in length and extend from the trailing or rear edge portion 28 to the approximate transverse center 30 as shown for example in Fig. 3. Then the tufts of bristles taper progressively and are shortened from the approximately centrally disposed point 30 to the approximate tip and these make up the bristles of the secondary bank and the tufts are denoted by the numeral 32. These bristles 32 merge into the bristles 18 as brought out in Fig. 4 with the bow-brush forming a sort of horseshoe shaped bristled collar.

Referring now to the integral handle 8 it 1s to be polnted out that this may vary in surface formation and design. Also the marginal edges may be delineated in varying ways. It is preferred, however, that the handle 8 be approximately as wide and in some portions wider than the widest portion of the bristled head. The shape depicted in the instant drawings is arbitrary and sub ect to change. In any event, the handle is elongate in plan and the lengthwise marginal edges 34 are curved and delineated in the manner shown to facilitate grasping the handle with the users hand. The forward portion of the brush joins the backing by way of a shank or web 36 which is lateral to the top surface of the backing and the purpose here is to offset the handle. That is to say the handle is in a plane which is approximately parallel to the plane of the member 10 but is sufficiently offset as to provide clearance. Therefore when the fingers of the users hand are wrapped around the handle they will clear the skin while the brush is being operated. It is further pointed out that at the junctional portion of the handle and shank the lengthwise edges are shaped to provide abutments or shoulders 38. More specifically these constitute thumb rests and they enable the brush to be used with either the left hand or the right hand in an obvious manner.

As briefly touched upon the brush may be made and is preferably made from sturdy plastic material. The bristles will be preferably made from a nylon product of correct type and correct degree of flexibility for tender complexion.

It is believed that the brush herein revealed is superior to any type complexion brush so far offered to the trade. Obviously, it may be utilized to do a very thorough cleaning job of every area of the face by reason of the fact that the head of the brush is smaller in size than the average complexion brush. In fact the overall size is no larger than many complexion brushes which are marketed. Naturally this small size offers greater facilities for varying techniques which will be employed by users. The bristles are short and the soapsuds do not work into the nostrils, eyes or hair. Another advantage of short bristles is that they are more easily guided than longer ones used on ordinary brushes and which undesirably spread out in different directions when slight pressure is applied during the cleaning needs. As touched upon the overall brush may be treated as two-in-one by reason of the fact that the bow-brush on the leading end can be employed satisfactorily at various angles of operation. By using it and manipulating and maneuvering the brush properly the bow-brush may be aptly applied to creases in the nose, between the eyes and between the eyebrows and hairline. This can be done by turning the brush sideways and applying the bristles on the marginal sides of the bow to areas to be cleaned and also applying the bristles on the bottom side to the face. This novel brush 24 is the correct distance from the main body of the brush to avoid interference from the primary bristles in the banks represented by the tufts 26 and 32 respectively. The handle fits the hand better than now used handles and is raised to permit the thumb and fingers from rubbing or riding against the face. It also promotes more satisfactory maneuverability of the brush. Being shaped for use by either right-handed or left-handed persons it is an ideal handle of construction. Also the handle may be filled in with thin, solid material, or made of openwork construction and otherwise designed for appearance purposes.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in gently but firmly brushing, cleansing and conditioning ones facial features, a complexion brush comprising a rigid backing having an offset handle at its rearward end, tufts of primary bristles attached to and covering the obverse face of said backing, the forward end portion of said backing being provided with a transversely extending slot, said slot being crescent-shaped in plan and situated inwardly of the marginal edge of said forward end portion, and additional bristles auxiliary to the primary bristles, said auxiliary bristles being secured to said backing forwardly of said slot, and some of the auxiliary bristles extending downwardly, others extending forwardly and outwardly beyond said backing, and other bristles extending upwardly, thus substantially covering backing forwardly of said slot with bristles but allowing the slot to remain clearly open.

2. A complexion brush comprising a rigid backing having an offset handle at a rearward end of said backing, tufts of primary bristles attached to and covering the ob verse face of said backing, the bristles carried by the median body portion and rearward end portion of said backing being relatively long and uniform in length and constituting a main bank of bristles, and the remaining bristles, that is, those which are embodied in and constitute an auxiliary bank of bristles being decreased in length, said backing being approximately ovate in plan, said handle, for the most part thereof, being as wide as the median portion of the backing and having a forward end joined to said rearward end portion by way of an outstanding web, said handle being substantially flat, laterally offset and assuming a plane parallel to the plane of the backing and providing clearance between the users face and fingers of the hand when in use, the forward end portion of said handle adjacent to the rearward end portion of said backing having a pair of marginally positioned outstanding selectively usable shoulders serving as thumbrests, one thumb-rest to accommodate the thumb of the right hand and the other thumb-rest to accommodate the thumb on the left hand as the case may be.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hellonen Sept. 3, 1935 Howard Aug. 15, 1871 Stewart Feb. 7, 1888 Foster Feb. 28, 1888 Wohlgemuth Aug. 22, 1893 Kolb Mar. 24, 1903 Butterfield Dec. 27, 1921 Kohler et al. Dec. 6, 1938 

